Re: linux performer

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From: Jenny Zhao (zhz++at++dandan.engr.sgi.com)
Date: 08/29/2000 16:59:03


On Aug 22, 1:28pm, Pat Gatewood wrote:
> Subject: linux performer
> When is the next update to Linux Performer due out and what will it most
> likely contain?
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> List Archives, FAQ, FTP: http://www.sgi.com/software/performer/
> Submissions: info-performer++at++sgi.com
> Admin. requests: info-performer-request++at++sgi.com
>-- End of excerpt from Pat Gatewood

Glad you asked. The next major version of Performer, 2.4, is
scheduled to release at the I/ITSEC conference in late
November this year. Performer 2.4 for Linux will be released
simultaneously with the IRIX release, and both share a common API.

Here's some highlights of what will be in the new release:

1. Base library enhancement

   We have made many architectural enhancements to core features in
   the library, avoiding API changes so as to ensure that very little
   porting effort will be required. These include:

        1. Multipipe scalability enhancement
        2. Cliptexture performance enhancement
        3. Locking multiple processes on the same processor
        4. Double precision DCS support
        5. LOD evaluation enhancements
        6. DPLEX support (via pfHyperpipe)
        7. Robust light point process enhancement

2. Performer for Linux

   Because both the IRIX and Linux versions of Performer share a
   common code base, as enhancements and new features are introduced
   in the IRIX version, they simultaneously become available in
   Linux, and vice versa. In addition many internal enhancements
   have been made in Performer for Linux to bring its core
   functionality ever closer to that available in IRIX. Some of the
   newest enhancements specific to Performer for Linux include:

        1. Multi-process operation (pfMultiprocess, pfMultithread)
        2. Frame-accurate timing control (pfPhase)
        3. Performance & feature optimizations, including
           several specific to SGI Linux Desktop workstations.

3. New features (IRIX and Linux)

   As the speed and capacity of graphics hardware increases we have
   the opportunity to dramatically improve image quality. Performer
   2.4 includes revolutionary new support for sophisticated model
   shading, enabling users to render higher quality scenes far more
   easily than coding in OpenGL directly. These new features
   include:

        1. Programmable shading & multi-pass rendering support using
           a new 'pfShader' feature.
        2. Support for Multi-texture on Linux
        3. Rotor wash for helicopter simulations

-- Jenny Zhao and Kimberly Neff

-- 
Jenny Zhao        zhz++at++engr.sgi.com     650 933-5091	IRIS Performer Manager


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